There are different kinds of Doulas
A Birthdoula should be familiar with the course of childbirth, various pain relief techniques, what the task entails and what it does not.She should leave her own birth experiences at the door when attending a client birth and focus 100% on supporting the birth of the woman in question according to her wishes.
A Postpartumdoula supports the mother and her family during the postpartum period. A good and supported postpartum can provide a good foundation and skills for future parenting challenges, which will in turn affect the future life experiences of the child, and what kind of adult they can become.
A Death doula discusses death, walks beside you, facilitates practical matters, works through grief with the dying person and/or relatives. A death doula is a comfort during of end-of-life care
Doula is not a protected title, so anyone has the right to use the title of doula, but it is highly recommended to attend a doula training before offering support.
Doula training
Trained doula has completed a duola focussed course, lasting at least 20 hours.
Certified doula has completed doula training and has since continued their training as required by the association or trainer. Common to the certification programs is gaining experience in childbirth as a doula after the training, studying the literature and research, and attending additional courses, e.g. on the physiology of childbirth and lactation.
A doula typically completes a lot of other courses that support the doula's role. Some doulas have a degree in health care (including a midwife, nurse, healthcare worker or physiotherapist).
Doula training in Finland
Doula-Akatemia
Training by Anna-Riitta Kässi with a certification path More details can be found at the Doula-akatemia page.
Doules
Doules doula course is an "DONA International" approved training, after which you can become internationally certified Become a DONA certified doula CD(DONA). The course is 20 hours in duration and the trainer is Marjaana Siivola.
Postpartum Doula certification training
Postpartum doula training that can lead to certification. More information can be found at this page Juurikonvoima
Lohtu Academy death doula training
Your trainers include Jessika Luther and Jaana Salmi. More details at the Lohtu Academy page.
Sacred Space Doula Training
Sacred Space doula training is an international doula training facilitated by experienced doula and trainer Rosalia Pihlajasaari. The training is held in English.
The Ancestral way to birth keeper doula training
This certification helps deepen knowledge and understanding of ancestral wisdom, whilst navigating hospital protocols and tools to support at home or at hospital as a professional birthkeeper-doula. Training is held by Brenda Miquiztli and is held in English.
Other traininng
In addition to these, there are several other doula trainings of different lengths and scopes. Additional training of interest to doulas (eg acupressure, qua sha, rebozo, etc.) will be announced on the association's “Suomen Doulat ry members” Facebook group, to which association members will be added upon request.
A short history of doulas
Throughout history, the birther has been supported by members of the community. Usually they have been women who have given birth previously. This custom began to fade when childbirth was transferred to hospitals.
In the early 1990s, doctors Kennell and Klaus noticed in their research on attachment relationships and lactation that continuous support promotes the course of childbirth, reduces complications, and increases the satisfaction of the parturient with the birth experience. The modern Doula era started with their research and today there are more than ten thousand doulas around the world.
Deanna Cochran, a former hospice nurse, was one of the first people in the late 1990s to develop the concept of death doula care after supporting her mother through her journey through illness and death.
In Finland, there have been voluntary birth support personnel since the early 1990s. In 2010, the first professional doulas who had trained abroad started in Finland. Currently, there are five different extended doula training courses aimed at certification in Finland.
In 2017, there were about 100 professional doulas and 250 volunteer doulas in Finland.